


We also visited Casa Hogarand had a meeting with a leader of the Dolores Medina Fundation. This is an organization that works with kids who live on the streets. We learned that one of the major issues that the country faces today is the amount of gang violence and gang activity that exists. Gang activity has led to homicides, and other violent crimes, including robbery, extortion, and kidnapping, making El Salvador one of the most dangerous countries in the Americas. The government, unfortunately, hasn't established a plan to address this problem. Fortunately, there are organizations, like Dolores Medina, that works with the youth to keep them out of gangs.
We had the opportunity to speak with one of the young boys that lives in this home and he explained some of the horrible circumstances that the youth in El Salvador must face on a daily basis. The problem that arises is that young boys who join gangs risk their lives everyday by the types of gang activity that they are involved in. Sadly, the youth that stays away from joining gangs are also at risk for being killed, because when gang members see a boy who is not part of their gang, they automatically assume that they are part of another group. This has become the case for many individuals in El Salvador. The young boy that we spoke to expressed this concern with us.
Many children and young adolescents become involved in gang activity at a very young age and this has a
Check out their blog: Fundación Dolores Medina.
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